SAMANTHA'S POV

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking against the harsh light that pierced through the dim room. The sterile scent of the pack’s hospital clung to the air, and my body felt as though it had been trampled by a hundred wolves. Every inch of me throbbed with pain, a deep, aching sorrow that dug into my chest, threatening to tear me apart. The weight of it was suffocating.

I turned my head, and there she was—Nancy, the head healer, my only friend in this cursed pack. She was seated beside my bed, her face creased with worry.

Her hand flew to her mouth as soon as she noticed I was awake. “Samantha, thank the Moon Goddess! You gave me quite the scare. They’re all gathered around that shameless breeder’s bed, even though nothing is wrong with her. Luckily, I found you lying there all alone, unconscious and covered in blood before it's too late. You freaked me out!”

I took in her words, trying to focus. My body felt too heavy, my mind too sluggish, but there was one thing I needed to know—one thing that had haunted me since I’d blacked out.

“How about the baby?” I asked, my voice hoarse, as I stared at Nancy with a calm that didn’t match the storm of emotions raging inside me.

Nancy froze, her eyes darting away for a split second, and I knew. She was hiding something.

She hesitated before speaking. “Oh, you mean that breeder’s baby? Her baby is fine,” she said, though her tone seemed too light, too dismissive.

I felt my pulse spike, the anger bubbling to the surface, but I held it back, forcing myself to stay still. “I’m talking about my baby. Don’t play the fool with me,” I said, my words cutting through the room like a knife.

Nancy's face fell, and her gaze softened with sympathy, which only made my stomach churn. She sighed heavily, clearly realizing she couldn’t keep the truth from me anymore. “I thought you didn’t know you were pregnant,” she said, her voice quiet. “I didn’t want to tell you, to spare you more pain. But… you’re right. When I was examining you, I discovered you were pregnant. The baby was still small, only three months along, and very unstable. I’m so sorry.”

Her words didn’t make sense at first, and I found myself just staring at her in silence. My mind tried to process the shock, but it was like a fog had settled in. The numbness had crept in again, so thick that I couldn’t even feel the tears I knew should have been falling.

"But the baby... the baby didn’t survive," Nancy added, her voice breaking.

My body went cold. The words sliced through me, but I didn’t react—not right away. I felt nothing but emptiness, a hollow pit opening inside me.

I continued to stare ahead, blankly, feeling the cool sheets beneath my fingers. I didn’t know how much time passed before I felt something wet on my hand. I looked down, confused, and saw drops of water falling onto it. My gaze shifted upward, and I realized it wasn’t raining outside.

I turned to Nancy, smiling weakly despite the emptiness that consumed me. “Look,” I said softly, my voice almost a whisper, “it’s raining. How can it be raining indoors?”

Her expression faltered, and she blinked rapidly, as though trying to will away the tears welling in her eyes. My body couldn’t even bring itself to mourn. Not yet. Maybe never.

Nancy didn’t respond. Instead, she just gave me a sad, pitiful look, then stood up, as if to give me space.

"Rest, Sam. I’ll be here if you need anything," she said quietly, her words carrying a weight of sorrow I couldn't bring myself to care about.

---

The pack house was just a short walk from the hospital, but the distance felt endless. The pack's halls were unnervingly quiet as I made my way through them, but it wasn't the usual silence that made my heart race. No, it was the sudden, oppressive weight of every pair of eyes that fell on me, staring, judging, whispering.

As I rounded the corner, I saw them.

Brian, with his arm around Bianca, both of them surrounded by a group of pack members. They laughed and chatted like everything was fine, as if nothing had happened. As if I didn’t exist.

Bianca’s eyes locked onto mine, and I saw the challenge in them. She stepped forward, her heels clicking loudly against the floor, her posture dripping with arrogance. “Well, well, look who’s up,” she cooed mockingly, her voice sickly sweet. “Feeling better now, Samantha? Or should I say Luna?”

The title felt like poison in my mouth. I didn’t respond to her bait. I couldn’t. But my wolf, the one that had been silent for so long, growled beneath the surface, furious at the audacity she had.

The Alpha, ever the coward, stood behind her. His eyes flickered briefly toward me, but it wasn’t concern or even indifference I saw in them. It was disdain. Pure, unfiltered disdain. He barely even acknowledged me as he shifted his gaze back to Bianca.

“Don’t bother with her, Bianca,” he said dismissively. “She’s already done enough damage. Let her go wallow in her failure.”

I felt my heart crack, but I held my head high. My hands clenched at my sides, the tension in my body palpable.

It was time.

I took a step forward, my voice steady and calm, though my soul was shaking. “I reject you, Brian. As my mate. As my Alpha. I’ve had enough.”

The words hit the air like a bomb, shattering the silence around us. The pack members stilled, their gazes flicking between Brian and me. Even Bianca stopped in her tracks, her expression faltering as her smug grin slowly faded.

Brian's face turned to stone. “What did you say?” His voice was low, dangerous. The arrogance I had once admired now felt like a noose tightening around my neck.

“I said I reject you,” I repeated, louder this time, my voice unwavering. “You never cared for me. You’re not worthy to be my mate.” I paused, letting my words sink in. “And I certainly would rather endure the pain of ending this mateship than to share my bed to a mere breeder.” I gestured toward Bianca, my voice dripping with finality.

SAMANTHA'S POV

I could feel the bond pulling at me, that invisible thread that had once tied me to Brian. It still lingered, weak and fragile, but I didn’t care. My mind was made up, and nothing would change it.

Brian stood before me, his brow furrowed in confusion and frustration. “You can’t be serious, Samantha. You’re going to throw all of this just because someone is carrying my heir? You could not even give me a son!” His voice was low, full of disdain. “Don't be ridiculous. We’re mates. You can’t just reject me like this.”

I stared at him, my eyes cold, my heart no longer in this—no longer in us. The mate bond was supposed to be forever, but when he had pushed me aside, when he had chosen Bianca over me and my baby, the bond meant nothing.

“I’ve already made up my mind,” I said, my voice steady despite the ache in my chest. “I can’t stay here. I can’t be with you anymore, Alpha. I’m done.”

His face twisted in disbelief. “You’re making a mistake.”

“No,” I whispered, shaking my head slowly. “And I don't care. Screw her in your bedroom all day and night, I don't care. Just end this freaking mateship!"

His eyes darkened, his fists clenching at his sides. “You're stubborn as fuck.”

I didn’t say anything. I didn’t need to. There was nothing left to say.

“Like I said,” I repeated, my tone final. “I’m rejecting you, Alpha Brian. Our mateship is over.”

Brian opened his mouth, but no words came out. His jaw tightened, his nostrils flaring in frustration. For a long moment, he simply stood there, staring at me as if trying to will me to change my mind.

“You can’t just—”

“I can,” I cut him off, my voice unwavering. “And I will.”

Brian stood there, frozen in shock, before he exhaled sharply. “Fine. If you’re sure,” he muttered, his voice cold now. “It’s done then.”

The words stung, but I didn’t show it. The bond was severed.

I turned and walked away from him, feeling the last remnants of our connection slip away with every step.

Our wolves already let go of each other, and even though the pain was excruciating, I didn't care. Nothing was more painful than when I lost my baby.

---

I walked slowly toward Nancy’s healer quarters, the weight of what I was about to ask her hanging heavily in the air. I had come to a decision. A decision that would change everything. I was ready to disappear.

When the door opened, I saw Nancy standing there, looking at me with concern written all over her face. She had always been my closest friend in this pack, the only one who seemed to understand my pain. But now, as I looked at her, I could see the worry in her eyes.

"Luna?" She asked, her voice gentle but unsure. "What’s going on? Are you not feeling good?"

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "I need your help, Nancy. No questions asked. I’m serious about this."

Her brow furrowed, and she stepped aside, letting me in. "Help with what? You’re scaring me."

I didn’t sit down. I couldn’t. There was too much adrenaline coursing through my veins, too much chaos in my mind. "I want to disappear," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "I want to be gone from this pack—this life—forever."

Nancy froze, her eyes wide with shock. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, as if unsure what to say. "Sam, what are you talking about? You’re just... you can’t—"

"I’m not asking for a temporary escape," I interrupted, my voice hardening. "I want to be erased. Gone. Like I never existed."

Nancy’s face drained of color, and she took a step toward me. "Wait, wait, you’re not... planning something drastic, are you?" Her voice cracked, her panic rising. "Samantha, no, you can’t... you’re not going to do something... permanent, right?"

I blinked, surprised at the wave of panic in her tone. "Nancy, no! I’m not... I’m not going to kill myself. God, no. Don’t think that."

She stepped back, clearly relieved but still visibly shaken. "Then what do you mean? What are you talking about?"

I exhaled slowly, trying to steady myself. "I need to disappear. I need to start over. A new life. A new identity. If I stay here, I’m just going to keep suffocating. The old Samantha is already dead. I need you to help me make it official."

Nancy looked at me as if she was seeing me for the first time. "What... what do you mean, 'make it official'? Sam, you’re not making sense."

I took a step closer to her, my voice quieter now. "I need you to help me fake my death."

Her face twisted in disbelief. "Fake your death? What are you talking about? How—"

"Find a body. One that looks like mine," I said flatly, watching her face for a reaction. "Then stage an accident. Tell everyone I’m dead. Make them believe it."

Nancy’s hands trembled slightly as she gripped the edge of the table behind her. "Sam, I... I can’t believe this. I know you’re hurting, but faking your death? This isn’t something that can be undone. It’s—"

"I know," I cut her off. "That’s why I need you to do it. You are the only one who can help me. I need to disappear. No one can find me. No one can know where I am. I’ll be free."

There was a long, heavy silence between us, and I could see her struggling with the weight of what I was asking. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "You’re sure about this? This is... this is the only way?"

I nodded firmly, though I felt a pang in my chest. "Yes. I can’t live like this anymore. I’ve already died inside, Nancy. I’m not the same person. I need a fresh start. A new life where no one knows my name."

She stared at me for a long moment, as though trying to read the truth in my eyes. Finally, she sighed. "I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but... alright. I’ll help you. I’ll find a body, and we’ll make it look like an accident. But, Sam, you need to understand—once we do this, there’s no turning back."

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Bianca sat perched on Brian’s lap, her fingers tracing the edge of his collar as she leaned in, her laughter a soft melody. She had always known how to keep him close, keep him distracted. For now, that was enough. She barely noticed when Andrius, the Beta, entered, his heavy footsteps breaking the easy atmosphere.

"Alpha, there’s... news," Andrius said hesitantly, his face pale. He hesitated before continuing, looking to the floor, clearly uncomfortable.

Brian’s eyes narrowed in irritation. "Spit it out. What’s the news?" His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Andrius took a step forward, but his words faltered. "We found a body by the river. It looks... it looks like..." His voice trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence.

Bianca's playful mood shifted instantly, her curiosity piqued. She glanced up at Brian, but he didn’t even acknowledge her.

Brian's getting impatient. He frowned,"Just say it."

Andrius flinched but stood firm. "It... it looks like Luna. I mean, Samantha," he corrected himself quickly, realizing his mistake in referring to her as Brian’s former mate after she had rejected him. "We thought it was her—"

Meanwhile, the Alpha stood abruptly, his chair scraping the floor as he shoved Bianca aside, sending her sprawling to the ground. "What did you just say?" His voice was a growl, barely contained.

Brian’s heart stopped. His gaze turned cold, fury flashing in his eyes. "What the hell do you mean ‘looks like’?" His tone was low and dangerous now. "What the fuck are you even saying?"

Andrius struggled to speak, his voice shaking. "No, Alpha. The body... it’s definitely hers. But there’s more. We found—there’s an unborn fetus... in her womb. It... it didn’t survive."